Day two with the crew was a rocky one, but it still delivered meaningful progress. We had a mix of small victories and a few setbacks, and by the end of the day a lot of important items were either completed or moving toward completion.

Wins from the day

1. The electrician installed a new switch for the kitchen light, which finally allows us to turn the light off from the intended location. It’s a small convenience, but it makes a noticeable difference in everyday use and adds to the sense that the space is becoming functional again.
2. The Parker crew finished closing off the old dining room doorway with new drywall. That change cleaned up the sightlines and helped the room feel more cohesive. The closed doorway will also make it easier to plan paint and trim work without dealing with an awkward opening.

3. The team widened the doorway from the den into the sunroom. The change opens up that pathway and gives the back of the house a much airier feel. While the photograph captures part of the result, the new opening lets light flow more freely and will frame the sunroom more effectively once the trim and finishing touches are added. To the right of the new doorway there’s an opened-up nook that will house our washer and dryer—this reconfiguration should improve traffic flow and utility in that area.

Challenges we ran into

Despite those wins, several problems surfaced that slowed progress and required more coordination.

1. The electrician arrived earlier than expected—around 7:45 a.m.—which was inconvenient timing for me personally. I happened to be outside bringing the dog in when he showed up, so our early-morning meeting was a bit awkward.
2. The Parker crew attempted to widen the brick-framed doorway between the kitchen and den but were not able to complete that part of the scope. They ultimately decided they could not safely or effectively finish that specific masonry modification, refunded the charge for that portion of the work, and urged us to hire a mason with the right expertise. That means we’re now actively searching for a skilled mason who can handle a brick-framed opening without causing damage to the surrounding structure.
3. During demo, a few paint cans that the crew was removing were crushed in their trailer, which caused paint to spill across our relatively new driveway. The mess was unfortunate, but it was resolved through quick teamwork. Sherry tackled the cleanup with patience, a hose, and elbow grease, and the driveway is back in decent shape. Still, it was an avoidable problem and a reminder that proper handling of materials during demo is essential.

What’s next

Today the crew returned to do touch-ups and tidy the areas they worked on. Our immediate priority is finding a competent mason who can safely widen the brick-framed doorway between the kitchen and den. We want that doorway finished by Tuesday so the flooring contractor can begin work on schedule Wednesday. Keeping the schedule intact is important because any delay in the masonry work will ripple through the rest of the renovation timeline.

We’re vetting potential masons carefully, checking references and examples of past work to ensure the person we hire understands the structural challenges and can protect adjacent areas like the roof and existing finishes. We don’t want a rushed job that later requires costly fixes.

Overall, despite the bumps in the road, the project is moving forward. The lighting update, drywall work, and the widened doorway to the sunroom are all positive steps. The remaining tasks—particularly the masonry and final touch-ups—will require careful coordination, but we’re optimistic that with the right professionals on board, the schedule can be recovered. Cross your fingers for us; we’re eager to keep the floor installer on track and finish this phase cleanly.